“Doubleyourguards，sire，forto-night——thatisall。IwillanswerfortheBastileandtheArsenal；andholdingtheseweholdParis。“
　　ButthereuponIfoundthatthekinghadcometoadecision，whichI
　　feltittobemydutytocombatwithallmyinfluence。Hehadconceivedtheideaofbeingtheonetoaccompanymetotherendezvous。“Iamtiredofthedice，“hecomplained，“andsickoftennis，atwhichIknoweverybody’sstrength。MadamedeVerneuilisatFontainebleau，thequeenisunwell。Ah，Sully，IwouldtheolddayswerebackwhenwehadNeracforourParis，andknewthesaddlebetterthanthearmchair！“
　　“Akingmustthinkofhispeople，“Iremindedhim。
　　“Thefowlinthepot？Tobesure。SoIwill——to-morrow，“hereplied。Andintheendhewouldbeobeyed。Itookmyleaveofhimasifforthenight，andretired，leavinghimatplaywiththeDukeofEpernon。Butanhourlater，towardeighto’clock，hismajesty，whohadmadeanexcusetowithdrawtohiscloset，metmeoutsidetheeasterngateoftheLouvre。
　　Hewasmasked，andattendedonlybyCoquet，hismasterofthehousehold。ItooworeamaskandwasesquiredbyMaignan，underwhoseorderswerefourSwiss——whomIhadchosenbecausetheywereunabletospeakFrench——guardingtheprisonerAndrew。IbadeMaignanfollowtheinnkeeper’sdirections，andweproceededintwopartiesthroughthestreetsontheleftbankoftheriver，pasttheChateletandBastile，untilwereachedanobscurestreetnearthewater，sonarrowthatthedecrepitwoodenhousesshutoutwell-nighallviewofthesky。Heretheprisonerhaltedandcalleduponmetofulfillthetermsofmyagreement。IbadeMaignanthereforetokeepwiththeSwissatadistanceoffiftypaces，buttocomeupshouldIwhistleorotherwisegivethealarm；andmyselfwiththekingandAndrewproceededonwardinthedeepshadowofthehouses。
　　Ikeptmyhandonmypistol，whichIhadpreviouslyshowntotheprisoner，intimatingthatonthefirstsignoftreacheryIshouldblowouthisbrains。However，despiteprecaution，Ifeltuncomfortabletothelastdegree。Iblamedmyselfseverelyforallowingthekingtoexposehimselfandthecountrytothisunnecessarydanger；whilethemeannessofthelocality，thefetidair，thedarknessofthenight，whichwaswetandtempestuous，andtheuncertaintyoftheeventloweredmyspirits，andmadeeverysplashinthekennelandstumbleonthereeking，slipperypavements——mattersoverwhichthekinggrewmerry——seemnolighttroublestome。
　　Arrivingatahouse，which，ifwemightjudgeinthedarkness，seemedtobeofrathergreaterpretensionsthanitsfellows，ourguidestopped，andwhisperedtoustomountsomestepstoaraisedwoodengallery，whichintervenedbetweenthelaneandthedoorway。
　　Onthis，besidesthedoor，acoupleofunglazedwindowslookedout。
　　Theshutterofonewasajar，andshowedusalarge，bareroom，lightedbyacoupleofrushlights。Directingustoplaceourselvesclosetothisshutter，theinnkeeperknockedatthedoorinapeculiarfashion，andalmostimmediatelyentered，goingatonceintothelightedroom。Peeringcautiouslythroughthewindowweweresurprisedtofindthattheonlypersonwithin，savethenewcomer，wasayoungwoman，who，crouchingoverasmolderingfire，wascrooningalullabywhilesheattendedtoalargeblackpot。
　　“Goodevening，mistress！“saidtheinnkeeper，advancingtothefirewithafairshowofnonchalance。
　　“Goodevening，MasterAndrew，“thegirlreplied，lookingupandnodding，butshowingnosignofsurpriseathisappearance。
　　“Martinisaway，buthemayreturnatanymoment。“
　　“Ishestillofthesamemind？“
　　“Quite。“
　　“AndwhatofSully？Ishetodiethen？“heasked。
　　“Theyhavedecidedhemust，“thegirlansweredgloomily。ItmaybebelievedthatIlistenedwithallmyears，whilethekingbyanudgeinmysideseemedtorallymeonthedestinysocoollyarrangedforme。“Martinsaysitisnogoodkillingtheotherunlesshegoestoo——theyhavebeensolongtogether。Butitvexesmesadly，MasterAndrew，“sheaddedwithasuddenbreakinhervoice。“Sadlyitvexesme。Icouldnotsleeplastnightforthinkingofit，andtheriskMartinruns。AndIshallsleeplesswhenitisdone。“
　　“Pooh-pooh！“saidthatrascallyinnkeeper。“Thinklessaboutit。
　　Thingswillgrowworseandworseiftheyareletlive。TheKinghasdoneharmenoughalready。Andhegrowsoldbesides。“
　　“Thatistrue！“saidthegirl。“Andnodoubtthesoonerheisputoutofthewaythebetter。Heischangedsadly。Idonotsayawordforhim。Lethimdie。ItiskillingSullythattroublesme——
　　thatandtheriskMartinruns。“
　　AtthisItookthelibertyofgentlytouchingtheking。Heansweredbyanamusedgrimace；thenbyamotionofhishandheenjoinedsilence。Westoopedstillfartherforwardsoasbettertocommandtheroom。Thegirlwasrockingherselftoandfroinevidentdistressofmind。“IfwekilledtheKing，“shecontinued，“Martindeclaresweshouldbenobetteroff，aslongasSullylives。Bothorneither，hesays。ButIdonotknow。Icannotbeartothinkofit。ItwasasaddaywhenwebroughtEpernonhere，MasterAndrew；andoneIfearweshallrueaslongaswelive。“
　　Itwasnowtheking’sturntobemoved。HegraspedmywristsoforciblythatIrestrainedacrywithdifficulty。“Epernon！“hewhisperedharshlyinmyear。“TheyareEpernon’stools！Whereisyourguarantynow，Rosny？“
　　IconfessthatItrembled。Iknewwellthattheking，particularinsmallcourtesies，neverforgottocallhisservantsbytheircorrecttitles，saveintwocases；whenheindicatedbytheseemingerror，asonceinMarshalBiron’saffair，hisintentiontopromoteordegradethem；orwhenhewasmovedtothedepthsofhisnatureandfellintoanoldhabit。Ididnotdaretoreply，butlistenedgreedilyformoreinformation。
　　“Whenisittobedone？“askedtheinnkeeper，sinkinghisvoiceandglancinground，asifhewouldcallespecialattentiontothis。
　　“ThatdependsuponMasterlaRiviere，“thegirlanswered。“To-
　　morrownight，Iunderstand，ifMasterlaRivierecanhavethestuffready。“
　　Imettheking’seyes。Theyshonefiercelyinthefaintlight，whichissuingfromthewindowfellonhim。Ofallthingshehatedtreacherymost，andLaRivierewashisfirstbodyphysician，andatthisverytime，asIwellknew，wastreatinghimforaslightderangementwhichthekinghadbroughtuponhimselfbyhisimprudence。ThisdoctorhadformerlybeenintheemploymentoftheBouillonfamily，whohadsurrenderedhisservicestotheking。
　　NeitherInorhismajestyhadtrustedtheDukeofBouillonforthelastyearpast，sothatwewerenotsurprisedbythishintthathewasprivytothedesign。
　　Despiteouranxietynottomissaword，anapproachingstepwarnedusatthismomenttodrawback。Morethanoncebeforewehaddonesotoescapethenoticeofawayfarerpassingupanddown。ButthistimeIhadadifficultyininducingthekingtoadopttheprecaution。YetitwaswellthatIsucceeded，forthepersonwhocamestumblingalongtowardusdidnotpass，but，mountingthesteps，walkedbywithintouchofusandenteredthehouse。
　　“Theplotthickens，“mutteredtheking。“Whoisthis？“
　　AtthemomentheaskedIwasrackingmybraintoremember。Ihaveagoodeyeandafairrecollectionforfaces，andthiswasoneI
　　hadseenseveraltimes。ThefeaturesweresofamiliarthatI
　　suspectedthemanofbeingacourtierindisguise，andIranoverthenamesofseveralpersonswhomIknewtobeBouillon’ssecretagents。Buthewasnoneofthese，andobeyingtheking’sgesture，Ibentmyselfagaintothetaskoflistening。
　　Thegirllookedupontheman’sentrance，butdidnotrise。“Youarelate，Martin，“shesaid。
　　“Alittle，“thenewcomeranswered。“Howdoyoudo，MasterAndrew？
　　Whatcheer？What，stillvexing，mistress？“headdedcontemptuouslytothegirl。“Youhavetoosoftaheartforthisbusiness！“
　　Shesighed，butmadenoanswer。
　　“Youhavemadeupyourmindtoit，Ihear？“saidtheinnkeeper。
　　“Thatisit。Needsmustwhenthedevildrives！“repliedthemanjauntily。Hehadadowncast，reckless，lucklessair，yetinhisfaceIthoughtIstillsawtracesofabetterspirit。
　　“ThedevilinthiscasewasEpernon，“quothAndrew。
　　“Aye，cursehim！IwouldIhadcuthisdaintythroatbeforehecrossedmythreshold，“criedthedesperado。“Butthere，itistoolatetosaythatnow。Whathastobedone，hastobedone。“
　　“Howareyougoingaboutit？Poison，themistresssays。“
　　“Yes；butifIhadmyway，“themangrowledfiercely，“Iwouldoutoneofthesenightsandcutthedogs’throatsinthekennel！“
　　“Youcouldneverescape，Martin！“thegirlcried，risinginexcitement。“Itwouldbehopeless。Itwouldmerelybethrowingawayyourownlife。“
　　“Well，itisnottobedonethatway，sothereisanendofit，“
　　quoththemanwearily。“Givememysupper。ThedeviltakethekingandSullytoo！Hewillsoonhavethem。“
　　OnthisMasterAndrewrose，andItookhismovementtowardthedoorforasignalforustoretire。Hecameoutatonce，shuttingthedoorbehindhimashebadethepairwithinaloudgoodnight。Hefoundusstandinginthestreetwaitingforhimandforthwithfellonhiskneesinthemudandlookedupatme，theperspirationstandingthickonhiswhiteface。“Mylord，“hecriedhoarsely，“I
　　haveearnedmypardon！“
　　“Ifyougoon，“Isaidencouragingly，“asyouhavebegun，havenofear。“WithoutmoreadoIwhistleduptheSwissandbadeMaignangowiththemandarrestthemanandwomanwithaslittledisturbanceaspossible。Whilethiswasbeingdonewewaitedwithout，keepingasharpeyeupontheinformer，whoseterror，I
　　notedwithsuspicion，seemedtobeinnodegreediminished。Hedidnot，however，trytoescape，andMaignanpresentlycametotellusthathehadexecutedthearrestwithoutdifficultyorresistance。
　　TheimportanceofarrivingatthetruthbeforeEpernonandthegreaterconspiratorsshouldtakethealarmwassovividlypresenttothemindsofthekingandmyself，thatwedidnothesitatetoexaminetheprisonersintheirhouse，ratherthanhazardthedelayandobservationwhichtheirremovaltoamorefitplacemustoccasion。Accordingly，takingtheprecautiontopostCoquetinthestreetoutside，andtoplantaburlySwissinthedoorway，thekingandIentered。IremovedmymaskasIdidso，beingawareofthenecessityofgainingtheprisoners’confidence，butIbeggedthekingtoretainhis。AsIhadexpected，themanimmediatelyrecognizedmeandfellonhisknees，anearerviewconfirmingthenotionIhadpreviouslyentertainedthathisfeatureswerefamiliartome，thoughIcouldnotrememberhisname。Ithoughtthisagoodstarting-pointformyexamination，andbiddingMaignanwithdraw，I
　　assumedanairofmildnessandaskedthefellowhisname。
　　“Martin，only，pleaseyourlordship，“heanswered；adding，“onceI
　　soldyoutwodogs，sir，forthechase，andtoyourladyalapdogcalledNinettenolargerthanherhand。“
　　Irememberedtheknave，then，asafashionabledogdealer，whohadbeenmuchaboutthecourtinthereignofHenrytheThirdandlater；andIsawatoncehowconvenientatoolhemightbemade，sincehecouldbeseeninconversewithpeopleofallrankswithoutarousingsuspicion。Theman’sfaceashespokeexpressedsomuchfearandsurprisethatIdeterminedtotrywhatIhadoftenfoundsuccessfulinthecaseofgreatercriminals，tosqueezehimforaconfessionwhilestillexcitedbyhisarrest，andbeforeheshouldhavehadtimetoconsiderwhathischancesofsupportatthehandsofhisconfederatesmightbe。Ichargedhimthereforesolemnlytotellthewholetruthashehopedfortheking’smercy。Heheardme，gazingatmepiteously；buthisonlyanswer，tomysurprise，wasthathehadnothingtoconfess。
　　“Come，come，“Irepliedsternly，“thiswillavailyounothing；ifyoudonotspeakquickly，rogue，andtothepoint，weshallfindmeanstocompelyou。Whocounseledyoutoattempthismajesty’slife？“
　　Onthishestaredsostupidlyatme，andexclaimedwithsorealanappearanceofhorror:“How？Iattempttheking’slife？Godforbid！“thatIdoubtedthatwehadbeforeusamoredangerousrascalthanIhadthought，andIhastenedtobringhimtothepoint。